Kano State Multi-Agency Task Force on Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking says it has arrested more than 380 suspects and secured over 230 convictions since its inauguration on 22 July.
The task force chairman, Muhuyi Rimin-Gado, disclosed this on Tuesday at a news conference in Kano, where he gave an account of the committee’s operations since its inauguration.
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Mr Rimin-Gado said the agency had conducted joint operations across the state, dismantling drug joints and criminal hideouts while recovering various illicit substances and dangerous weapons.
He said the operations also led to the seizure of about 870,000 capsules of Pregabalin from a pharmaceutical company after alleged diversion of the drug for illicit use.
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43 children rescued
The chairman said two rubber-solution dealers had been convicted for exposing about 43 underage children involved in street scavenging to intoxicating substances.
According to him, the children had been medically examined and were receiving counselling and treatment, while efforts were underway to reunite them with their families.
The development comes amid intensified efforts by the Kano State Government and security agencies to tackle drug abuse and the trafficking of illicit substances in the state.
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The state government recently announced measures targeting drug abuse hotspots, while the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has continued to report seizures of illicit drugs in Kano.
125 persons undergoing rehabilitation
Mr Rimin-Gado said about 125 people had been referred to the Kano Reformatory Institute in Kiru for rehabilitation, taking the facility to full capacity.
He said the state government had provided an additional rehabilitation facility in Tofa Local Government Area to expand the programme.
According to him, the task force is targeting 10,000 youths for removal from the streets, rehabilitation, skills acquisition and reintegration into society.
He warned owners of tricycles and other vehicles against allowing their vehicles to be used for criminal activities, saying such vehicles could be liable to forfeiture.
Residents welcome crackdown
Some residents of Kano have welcomed the government’s efforts, particularly the combination of enforcement and rehabilitation measures.
Hamza Falcao, a resident of Tudun Wada, who spoke to PREMIUM TIMES, described the development as a welcome one.
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“This is a welcome development,” he said.
Also, Hawwa Bello, residing at Nasarawa Quarters, also applauded the government’s efforts, saying the intervention was needed at this critical time.
“This is needed at this critical time,” she said.
Mr Rimin-Gado called for stronger collaboration among security agencies, traditional and religious institutions, civil society organisations and members of the public to combat drug abuse and illicit trafficking.
He urged residents to provide timely and relevant information to the task force to support efforts to make communities safer.
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